William James GORHAM died 1929

[helenmcasmith]

I am based in the UK but would like to find out a bit more about William James GORHAM whose grave appears on Find a Grave at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64130851

I am trying to ascertain if he is the William GORMAN I am searching for, as their birth dates are the same (born 22 Oct 1859).  My WIlliam was born on 22 Oct 1859 in the workhouse at Greenwich, England - the illegitimate son of Mary Ann Duke (later married to Hugh GORMAN)

I cannot find out a birth, marriage or census return for the William James GORHAM who died in USA, so basically I am trying to prove or disprove if he is the one connected to my family.

[shellyesq]

I'm not seeing the death that Find a Grave mentions on any online index, so you might want to contact the person who added that information and see if they know where it came from.

[ShaunJ]

Looks like the person who posted the burial is no longer with us:

https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/46624064

"I would like everyone to know that 90% of the info & grave stone/monument pictures I have entered relating to burials in Anoka Co., MN cemeteries were obtained from the Anoka County Historical & Genealogical Society, Anoka, MN and pictures were taken by their representatives."

[oldohiohome]

I cannot find out a birth, marriage or census return for the William James GORHAM who died in USA, so basically I am trying to prove or disprove if he is the one connected to my family.

I can't either.

The headstone, just saying "William James" looks like either:
1) the man's full name was William James,
or
2) if his surname was Gorham, then he is buried in a Gorham family plot.

There is a Gorham family in Burns Township, Anoka County, in 1900, but it is headed by a Thomas Gorham, born c 1838 in Ireland.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M995-JW4

But then I'm not finding anyone named William James in the county either.

As the deceased findagrave poster suggested, maybe talk to that genealogical society.

[helenmcasmith]

Many thanks for the replies.  I'll try and source a contact for the genealogical society that is near to where he is buried incase they can cast any light, having the local knowledge.

[oldohiohome]

I searched Calvary Cemetery for anyone named Gorham, and found this woman whose headstone pictures match "William James":

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64130730/mary-gorham

A tree at Ancestry.com has this couple, who match the dates exactly.

William J Sullivan
1859–1929
Birth 22 OCT 1859 • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Death 9 APR 1929 • Brainerd, Crow Wing, Minnesota, United States

married to: 

Mary Gorham
1864–1946
Birth 5 NOV 1864 • Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Death 28 JAN 1946 • Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA

According to the tree, she is a daughter of the Thomas Gorham living in Burns in 1900.

So, it might a Sullivan family and a transcription error. Or the Gorhams and Sullivans are buried together or whatever. I haven't sorted out the whole situation, but it doesn't look like the man you are looking for. Wm J Sullivan was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, according to the tree.